Microsoft’s Series X | The S generation of consoles have a lot in common, but the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S differ from each other in key ways, and it can be confusing to figure out which one you should get. Should you buy the Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S?
Let’s break down both of these consoles and decide which Xbox is right for you.
But first, a few key points on the Xbox Series X|S
Before we dive into the specifics of the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, we need to clear up some sources of confusion for many first-time buyers.
Xbox One X/S is not the same generation as the Series X|S
Microsoft has another range of consoles called Xbox One X and Xbox One S from the generation before Series X and Series S. Due to their similar names, when the Xbox Series X opened for pre-orders, sales of the Xbox One X also increased, as reported by IGN.
Because of this, when you choose between the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S, make sure you’re not buying the older Xbox ‘One’ console instead.
Xbox Series X and Series S can play the same Xbox games
While there are major differences between the Xbox Series S and Series X, each console is still capable of playing all Series X generation Xbox games.
Likewise, each console also supports Xbox Game Pass, meaning that the console can load and play every game listed on Xbox’s Game Pass service.
However, significant differences in performance affect how well the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X each play and run Xbox games, and other key differences may sway which console is right for you.
Now that you know which console range you should buy, the question remains: should you buy the Xbox Series X or the Xbox Series S?
Which console is the most powerful?
The Xbox Series X is the most powerful of the two consoles. In terms of processing speed, both consoles use a custom Zen 2 CPU with eight cores, but the Xbox Series X clocks it at 3.8GHz and the Xbox Series S at 3.6GHz.
The difference becomes even wider when the graphics are compared. The Xbox Series X can manage twelve TFLOPs while the Xbox Series S can only manage four. This means the Xbox Series X can achieve native 4K resolution, while the Xbox Series S can only go for 1440p but upscale games to match the 4K display.
Lastly, the Xbox Series X has 16GB of RAM, while the Series S only has 10GB. As such, if you want raw power, you have only one option.
Which console has more storage space?
The Xbox Series X also has more storage space than the Series S. The Xbox Series X can hold up to 1TB of data, while the Series S can only manage 512GB.
It’s also worth noting that both consoles have an SSD and expandable storage, making the Series S and Series X expandable and lightning fast.
Which console is best for backwards compatibility?
Xbox fans have enjoyed playing old Xbox games on their new consoles, and the Xbox Series X and S are no different. The Xbox Series X and S have amazing backward compatibility, so you don’t need to worry about the console’s ability to replay classics.
However, there is one caveat that is important for those who like to replay their old library. The Xbox Series S is download-only and does not have a disc drive.
While this means you can’t use older disc games, you can play hundreds of current and previous generation titles if you use Xbox Game Pass on the Series S, making the Series S a great reason to own one. Why do you want to invest in Xbox? Game Pass.
However, the Xbox Series X has a Blu-ray optical drive and can play both disc games and Game Pass, making it the clear winner.
Which console is the cheapest?
The Xbox Series S comes at a lower price point than the Series X, despite having lower specs than the Series X.
You can buy the Xbox Series S for $239.99, as listed on the Microsoft Store. While the Microsoft Store lists the Xbox Series X at $499.99, making the Series S the cheaper option for you.
Which console is the smallest?
Having a super-powerful console is all well and good, but it’s all for naught if you can’t find the right place to put it. If you don’t have much room for a console, you might want to consider the Xbox Series S.
The Xbox Series X comes in at 5.9 x 5.9 x 11.8 inches. Meanwhile, the Xbox Series S loses a lot in the width department and comes in at 2.6 x 5.9 x 10.8 inches. This makes the Xbox Series X the smallest Xbox console ever.